Wave motor



J. J-. USHER .IWAVE MOTOR Aug. 11, 1931.

Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. J. USHE WAVE MOTOR Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

E M/Um Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J'. USHER, OF ST. HELENS, OREGON WAVE MOTOR Application filed July 28, 1928. Serial No. 295,942.

' structed that the operation thereof will be positive and will operate regardless of the height of swells of the waves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be laced in a position to assure that the same will be subjected to the action of the waves,

the construction being such that the waves gill be positively directed for actuating the oat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the float will be of considerable length and is so mounted that when the float is raised or lowered unevenly, the movement thereof will be transmitted to'the power gearing.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a housing for the working parts 0 the motor which is formed from cement so that it will last indefinitely.

WVhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,-

Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 8.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective' view through the housing showing the guide for the float.

The housing 1 comprises a back 2 and sides, 3 the front 4 of the housing stopping .at a point in a plane above the lower edge 5159 of the sides and back in order to provide ing.

an entrance 5. The sides have formed as continuations thereof outwardly flared de-- flectors 6 which extend somewhat above the entrance 5, said deflectors obviously serving to direct the waves into the entrance open 'ing 5.

The ends 3 of the housing are, provided with, guides 7 and in which are slidable the extensions 8 of the float 9, said float being formed from cement and it will be of course understood that when the housing is formed provision will be made for the float to be elevated above the ocean bed even at the lowest tide in order that the incoming waves will be effective toelevate the float.

. The float has secured thereto in any approved manner blocks 10 to which are pivotally mounted links 11, said links having pivotally connected to their upper ends the extensions 12 of the yokes 13. By this construction it will be observed that the float will have a universal connection with the yokes 13 in order that the float can rise and I mounted upon the drive shaft 17, said shaft being journaled in boxes 18 supported upon the upper ends of the sides 3 of the hous- The gears 16 of each pair are maintained in spaced relation by a disk 18 and the outer surfaces of these gears are provided with a plurality of circularly alined spring pressed pawls 20 which are adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheels 21 which To one end of the shaft 17 is fixed a flywheel 22, the inertia of which will naturally increase the power of the shaft 17 which may be coupled in any suitable manner to' operate any apparatus, desired,

It will be obvious that as the float 9 rises under the action of the waves one of the bars l l in its upward movement will rotate the associated gear and thus the ratchet wheel to impart rotary movement to the shaft, the downward movement of the yoke causing the other bar to actuate 'the companion in 'a similar mannerftlrhgas the float rises the two yokes will impart a rotary movement to the shaft, and this vmovement will not be interrupted as the float fall's, owing to the arrangement of the gears and ratchet Wheels. In this manner a continuous rotation is impartedto thesha-ft 17 during the rising and falling of the float, and the rotation of the shaft will be 'lc'ontinuous regardless 0f the heightto which the fl'oa't -formed from "cement in order that it will last indefinitely, andmounted in the hyper endsj he reof a're gu-ides iorthe'bars 1%.

Owing to the iv resenee oi. the deflectors 6 it will ts obvious that the incoming waves will *be directed into the passage 5 so that they will 'act'n pon the fleat z Further it iwil l'ibeobserved that by provi n'g these deflectors the height of the wave'will be increased as it the housing, and since the wave-'e'nte rs the lie-using thehei-ght thereof will be twice increased, therefore a wave five tee-t high from its trough to its crest xvii-l have the same effect upon the motor as a-"wave ten feet liigh. witltherefore be obvious'ihat even it the float-is subjected to ca comparatively low wave or ground swell the meter "witl be actuated.

It ill he ohserved' 'th'at the float is coinq aarat *cly shallow and. elongated, thereby offering ccnside-rable resistance tor-the waves when running thereunder in'order that the float can ibe :prc'perly lifted tor recip'rocat- .i-ng theyolies 13. i

From the foregoing, it 'is thou ght theconrnetion, operationmany advantages of'the herein describe vention will be app -rent to those skilled in the art without rth r descri ition, and it will 'be underh'a't val-ions changes in the size, shape, andipreportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without depar'"- ing from the 'acrifioing any ofthe ad vent-a gcs f-Gf V Having thus des claim:

A wave motorcomprlsin-ga housing open at the top "ad bottom and including treat, ba'clr'and' c walls, the front wall terminating some'distance from the lowerends of the hack and side Wall *a-nd t he latter having flared extensions, a cat the housing, guide ineans between the ends of the float and the sidewalls, ashaftmo'unted in bearings at the top of the side walls, pairs of gear wheels loose on opposite end portions ribe'd' the invention, *1

JOHN J. USHER; [L. s]

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